THE "SUMMA THEOLOGICA"

Q. 23.A_T.5 THE "SUMMA THEOLOGICA " 330
His goodness, so that the divine goodness might be represented
in things. Now it is necessary that God's goodness,
which in itself is one and undivided, should be manifested in
many ways in His creation; because creatures in themselves
cannot attain to the simplicity of God. Thus it is that for
the completion of the universe there are required different
grades of being; some of which hold a high and some a low
place in the universe. That this multiformity of grades may
be preserved in things, God allows some evils, lest many good
things should never happen, as was said above (Q. XXII.
A. 2). Let us then consider the whole of the human race,
as we consider the whole universe. God wills to manifest
His goodness in men; in respect to those whom He predestines,
by means of His mercy, in sparing them; and in
respect of others, whom he reprobates, by means of His
justice, in punishing them. This is the reason why God
elects some and rejects others. To this the Apostle refers,
saying (Rom. ix. 22, 23): What if God, willing to show His
wrath [that is, the vengeance of His justice], and to make
His #ower known, endured [that is, permitted] with much
1Salience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction, that He might
show the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He
hath prepared unto glory (Rom. ix. 22, 23): and (2 Tim. ii. 2o) :
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver;
but also of wood and of earth; and some, indeed, unto honour,
but some unto dishonour. Yet why He chooses some for
glory, and reprobates others, has no reason, except the divine
will. Whence Augustine says (Tract. xxvi. in Joan.): Why
He draws one, and another He draws not, seek not to judge, if
thou dost not wish to err. Thus too, in the things of nature,
a reason can be assigned, since primary matter is altogether
uniform, why one part of it was fashioned by God from the
beginning under the form of fire, another under the form of
earth, that there might be a diversity of species in things
of nature. Yet why this particular part of matter is under
this particular form, and that under another, depends upon
the simple will of God; as from the simple will of the artificer
it depends that this stone is in this part of the wall, and that